Residents Of Lencoh Boyolali Continue To Hold Alms Of Gunung Malam 1 Suro

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/BETWEEN

BOYOLALI - Residents of the slopes of Mount Merapi in Lencoh Village, Selo District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, continue to hold alms ceremonies to the peak area of Merapi with a limited number on the night of 1 Suro.

Selo Sub-district Head Joko Prihanto said in the ritual, those who were limited to 10 people, among others, brought buffalo heads to the peak area of Merapi, at a location called Pasar Bubrah.

Joko explained that processions and art performances in the Labuhan ritual tradition were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the stages of the buffalo head ritual by the caretaker of Mount Merapi were carried out at the Lencoh Village Hall.

"The buffalo head was immediately taken to the Bubrah Market in port. We cannot receive invitations from outside Selo, including members of the sub-district leadership communication forum (forkopimcam) monitoring from afar," he said, quoted by Antara, Monday, August 9.

His party together with the Selo District COVID-19 Task Force Team monitored the rituals from the local sub-district office, to ensure strict implementation of health protocols.

Joko explained that the essence of mountain alms is prayer by residents to coincide with the night of 1 Suro. However, the pandemic situation made their activities packaged as well as possible so as not to cause a crowd.

"It can be seen that we strictly forbid any celebration crowds. The ritual of the buffalo head harbor will start at around 23.00 WIB. There are no invitations for residents because the COVID-19 pandemic is still very dangerous," he said.

Samsuri (41), a resident of Lencoh Village, said that the mountain alms are still carried out by residents, but due to the pandemic, the tradition has been made simple with a limited number of people.

A total of 10 people from the Lencoh Village Alert Team (TSD) will bring buffalo heads to Bubrah Market in the Merapi peak area on Monday night.

Head of the Youth, Sports and Tourism Office of Boyolali Regency, Susilo Hartono, said that the mountain alms were still carried out by residents of Lencoh Village, but their number was limited to 10 people, independently of the village, and did not invite other residents, including Disporapar.

He also reminded residents to continue to comply with the prokes, vaccinate immediately, and leave the house only if there is an urgent need, and maintain health so that immunity increases in the midst of a pandemic.